A Masterpiece Takes Time

[300 words] The stereotypical view of artistry is of the chaotic genius giving birth to great works of art and music in fits of creative energy. One moment a blank canvas, the next a masterpiece; one instant an empty score, the next a symphony. However, an investigation into the facts does not support this view.  Beethoven, one of the world’s most famous composers, rose at daybreak and worked continuously until two or three o’clock, working on multiple ideas at once. He often worked on musical pieces that he began years before. For many of his ideas he sketched as many as 20 or 30 variants of a theme to arrive at just the right sound. Well-known master painter Michelangelo produced more than 2,000 sketches and renderings of his work “Last Judgment” during the eight years it took him to complete his masterpiece. In just these two examples we see that…